Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 23

Shimizu S-Pulse 2-2 Yokohama F Marinos

Monday August 9th 6pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira , Shizuoka

S-PULSE GOALS Katayama(4), Nishizawa(60)

YELLOW CARDS Suzuki(36), Valdo(38)

RED CARDS

ATTENDANCE 7890

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Hara, Valdo, Ibayashi, Okui

MF Matsuoka, Takeuchi, Katayama, Taki

FW Suzuki Yuito, Thiago

SUBSTITUTIONS

Tatsuta on for Valdo(50)

Nishizawa on for Okui(50)

Goto on for Taki(50)

Kawai on for Suzuki (70)

Ibusuki on for Thiago(78)

REPORT

Gritty draw, and that facing a well-oiled team second in the J1 League with still an incomplete team including two new recruits!

S-Pulse even managed to catch their opponents cold with a fine free kick taken outside left of the box by Taki who floated the ball to be headed back by Santana from very close to the far post for a simple goal for Katayama to push in.

After that it was all defense and two great saves by Gonda, but in the 39th minute Marinos completely flummoxed their opponents running along the defense before sending a long through pass for a simple goal. Just before half time Gonda had to make another great save to keep his team in contact with Marinos.

But 2 minutes into the second half S-Pulse conceded a soft goal with a defense totally disjointed and looking at each other. This time, Gonda did not hide his justified anger! But for the next 20 minutes or so, S-Pulse showed quality in dominating the game having two great chances saved by the opposing goalkeeper until the 60th minute when Santana prevented the opposing defense to clear a great long pass from Yuito Suzuki before Goto fought it back to pass it to Santana in the middle who relayed it again immediately to the same Goto running down on his left whose cross was headed in by Nishizawa for a very fine goal. The very next minute the post saved S-Pulse but the draw was somehow saved not so much with great technique but great tenacity.

S-Pulse were a bit lucky in grabbing the draw but they showed great progress which promises a better second half of the season, especially taking in account that two more new recruits will surely come into play soon with some more starting members back from injury.

The next game promises to become a great competition for spots with already newcomers Ibayashi and Matsuoka playing a full game! Next game on Friday at home against Gamba Osaka should see some fireworks!

NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 24

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Gamba Osaka

Friday August 13th 7:pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira , Shizuoka